UP! - North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

24 | UP! On The North Wessex Downs
UP!Dates
North Wessex Downs events
APRIL
10 Pewsey Downsaround walking challenge
17 White horse Challenge – 150 km cycling, Shrivenham
22 (Good Friday) Lambourn Trainers’ Stables Open Day
Crofton beam engines (open until September)
22-25 Devizes-Westminster International Canoe Race, K&A Canal
Bluebells and lambing-time. Look out for farm open days
Maize, linseed planted; grass and arable crops fertilised.
A R EA
NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
O F OUTSTANDING NATURAL
Lambing time
BEA U T Y
More details
www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
MAY
1 Sarsen Trail – walk, run, cycle, Avebury - Stonehenge
3 Hungerford Tutti Day (Hocktide, 2nd Tues after Easter)
Look out for the may blossom of the hawthorn, bluebells and
yellow oilseed rape fields. Listen for the distinctive purring song of
the turtle dove. Sheep shearing begins.
JUNE
3-5 West Woodhay House Charity Garden Show
5 East Ilsley Sheep Fair, Pen Meadow
11-12 Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally, Rainscombe Park, Oare
12 Open Farm Sunday – www.farmsunday.org
16 Coarse fishing season begins (rivers and streams)
21 Summer solstice at Avebury (Longest day)
Hay-making, silage cutting, mating of dairy and beef cows.
JULY
1-24 Hungerford & District Community Arts Festival (HADCAF)
7-10 Barbury International Horse Trials
9-10 Wiltshire County Show, Barbury Castle Estate
15-17 Marlborough International Jazz Festival
Harvest-time. Combines crop the fields.
AUGUST
21 Devizes Carnival activities (until September 3)
Arable crop harvesting at peak. Straw put by for winter livestock.
SEPTEMBER
3-4 Hungerford Food Festival
3-18 Pewsey Carnival activities
17-18 Royal County of Berkshire Show, Newbury (off J13, M4)
Wilton Windmill Open Day
14 May
Country show time
Picture: www.richardmaidment.com